The Aesthete's Alphabet - X is for X-Factor

Well I finally settled on a topic for X, thanks to a reader who suggested it .... this was her input... 

"The "X" factor..the "je ne sais quoi" that distinguishes so many of your design choices from mere decor...you do it so very well. It could be your piece de resistance...those rooms or design elements that just "speak to your soul" for some inexplicable reason......"

I have to also thank Margaret from Australia for these fantastic ideas...

               xenodocheionology....... love of hotels
               xylophilous.......fond of or growing or living on or in wood

               xanthous.......yellow coloured

               xerophytic.........adapted for a hot dry environment 

 Who knew??

Onto the X-Factor - not the TV show - not a big fan of that,  but I do love "The Voice". Do you watch it? What a great show! The contestants are so talented, the banter between Adam Levine and Blake Shelton is really amusing and Pharrell Williams is just so nice, I think I would like him to be the godfather of my children. No disrespect to the current godfathers though some of them are a bit slack. (You know who you are:)) 

I seem to have gotten a little sidetracked there.... sorry! 

Looking through my mountain of photographs to determine which rooms qualified for the X-Factor seemed insurmountable, so I decided to limit it to living rooms. 

There are rooms that just have that really special something that put them into the category of extraordinary. It's not always easy to say why. The dimensions and proportions definitely have something to do with it, the finishes and architectural details are also important. My taste definitely tends towards the muted and subtle as you will see by my choices. An antique or two often helps, a beautiful fireplace or another focal point is necessary, art or accessories create interest but it is the way that the room is put together that sets it apart.

These are the rooms that "speak to my soul" as my reader so eloquently put it......

So those are my nominees for the X-Factor - what do you think? 

I'd love to know what creates the X-Factor for you.

Till next time 

Sharon x

Images via : 1. Passion Decor, 2. Fable and Flame on Tumblr, 3. Blue Room Lady on Tumblr, 4. Velvet and Linen Blog, 5 Vicky Dar blog, 6. Casa Decorada Blog, 7. mmmarly on Tumble, 8. Casa Decorada Blog, 9. Particular Poetry on Tumble, 10. Unknown, 11. Casa Decorada Blog, 12 & 13. Dying of Cute on Tumblr, 14. Charming Spaces on tumblr, 15. Unknown, 16. Ty Larkins, 17. Evelyn Moreels